That's just horrible smh and as someone who has had traumatic work experiences, I really hope the freelancers didn't believe you to be the type of boss to say what they don't mean. I know that, in the past, I would accept work out of fear that my bosses didn't actually "mean it" when they tell me to take time, to go home. My first job out of college I was blindsided getting fired because I genuinely believed that my superiors meant it when they would say to 'go home' but they never did. It was like they were testing me and I 'failed'. I feel like so many people operate this way (My boss said it was okay but I HAVE to make sure they know I'm not being lazy/complacent). It's crazy how messed up our work life is that we can't even believe that it's 'okay' not to do the work.